OVERVIEW

Korpusbasierte Textanalyse und interkulturelle Kommunikation:

Variation in Contemporary German: Dialects, Sociolects, Situational Varieties, and Functional Varieties

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired high-level knowledge and skills in the use of German language corpora, particularly aimed at textual analysis and intercultural communication. Special attention will be given to the application of digital tools and quantitative and qualitative methods for the interpretation and management of linguistic data. All of this will also take place with the support of courses taught by German native language collaborators and aimed at practical language learning at a specialized level (specialized languages).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course (theoretical module) aims to provide students with a general understanding of the main varieties of the German language and of recent developments in contemporary German.

A further objective of the course (theoretical module) is to introduce students to the contrast between the standard language and diatopic, diastratic, and diaphasic varieties, as well as to the distinctions between spoken and written language and between colloquial language and specialized or domain-specific languages.

The aim of the practical component (language exercises) is for students to acquire German-language skills corresponding to level C1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Upon completion of the course (theoretical module), students will be able to navigate the field of German language variation studies.

Upon completion of the course (theoretical module), students will have acquired the linguistic tools necessary to identify, classify, and analyze differences among language varieties and between the written and spoken registers of contemporary German, as well as to engage with the field of synchronic variation linguistics in present-day German.

Upon completion of the practical component (language exercises), students will be able to use German both receptively and productively in oral and written communication in accordance with the CEFR descriptors for level C1.1.

PREREQUISITES

Language level B2 in German language is required for participation.

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lectures (30 lessons, 2nd semester) will be accompanied during the whole academic year by practical language exercises (120 lessons, yearlong, 60 1st semester + 60 2nd semester). The theory lectures and the language classes begin in September 2026; the theory lectures starts in the 2nd semester (February 2027); time schedules, programs, instructors and auditoriums will be published in Aulaweb and will be announced on the websites of the single instructors at the end of September 2026.

Lecture accompanied by language exercises. The theory lectures and the practical language exercises will take place in form of traditional classroom teaching. Modifications subject to eventual provisions regarding the development of the sanitary situation, the meteorological situation or other unexpected circumstances will be announced in Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will focus on the varieties of contemporary German, with particular attention to the morphosyntactic, phonetic, lexical, and semantic differences among the various varieties. In addition, the contrast between spoken and written language will be examined.

The course will address the main characteristics of German language varieties, including diatopic, diastratic, diaphasic, and diamesic variation, as well as specialized and domain-specific languages. Throughout the course, the effects of linguistic variation in German on the standard language will be examined and discussed. Selected examples of different text types will also be analyzed. The selected texts will be analyzed through the use of digital tools and linguistic corpora.

The practical language exercises will bring the students from B2 level to C1.1 level according to the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEF).

The program of the course is valid until February 2028 in accordance to the departmental regulation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Theoretical module

• Barbour, Stephen/Stevenson, Patrick: Variation im Deutschen. Soziolinguistische Perspektiven, Berlin/New York: de Gruyter, 1998.
• Braun, Peter: Tendenzen in der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, Stuttgart/Berlin/Köln: Kohlhammer, 19984.
• Freywald, Ulrike / Wiese, Heike u.a.: Deutsche Sprache der Gegenwart. Eine Einführung, Metzler, Berlin: Springer, 2023.
• Moraldo, Sandro M.: Deutsch aktuell. Einführung in die Tendenzen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache 2, Roma: Carocci, 2011.
• Neuland, Eva: Soziolinguistik der deutschen Sprache, Stuttgart: utb – Narr / Francke / Attempto, 2023
• Riehl, Claudia Maria: Sprachkontaktforschung. Eine Einführung, Tübingen: Narr, 2009.
• Schwitalla, Johannes: Gesprochenes Deutsch. Eine Einführung, Berlin: Erich Schmidt, 2003.

Further bibliographical and didactic material will be provided during the semester (Aulaweb).

Applied module

Teaching materials will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Theory module: 2nd semester, start at end of February, 2027

Exercises: annual, start at end of September, 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Theory class:

written exam (50% del final mark)

Language exercises:

written exam (essay writing) +

oral exam

(average of the marks of the exercise exams: 50% of the final mark)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theory lessons will be concluded by an oral exam in which the arguments, treated during the class will be asked about. The languages classes will be completed by a written exam and an oral exam. During the oral exam at the end of the theory class the students have to provide evidence of their profound knowledge of the arguments dealt with during the lessons, the designed texts and the materials published in Aulaweb.

Inscription for the exams on the homepage of the University of Genoa (www.unige.it) at the link „servizi online per gli studenti“.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group

The exam is obligatory for students in the first year of the master course in “Language and intercultural communication for institutions and companies” LM 38

Credits

The total exam consisting in theory class and language exercises is equivalent to 9 credit points.

Languages

Lessons will be held in German language.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) :

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.